The 1999 debate at Georgetown University between Sr. Maureen Fiedler SL and Fr. Joseph Fessio SJ on the topic Can a Woman Receive the Sacrament of Orders?
This debate was moderated by Fr. J. Augustine DiNoia, At the time, Fr. DiNoia, was serving as theological staff to the US Conference of Catholic Bishopsâ Committee on Doctrine. This quote from the Fr. DiNoia adds context to the discussion:
Also I should mention that there have been some questions, of course, about an odd idea that one is not allowed to speak about this subject. There is no such ruling. One cannot come to an understanding and deepening of the reflection of the nature of the gift of (that) holy orders is to the Church without speaking about it. So we must not think that weâre transgressing here any rulings of any kind. This is exactly the kind of debate and reflection that our Holy Father and indeed the entire theological tradition has always expected and indeed urged.
Fr. DiNoia was subsequently appointed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith where he served for a number of years with then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. In 2009 Fr. DiNoia was named an Archbishop and now serves at the Congregation for Divine Worship.
This is a suggested resource for A Three Part Program Discussing Catholic Teaching and The Non-Ordination of Women found in A Million Voices (http://www.futurechurch.org/amillionvoices/)
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